Behind Every Great Leader
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article about the “power” of assistants (specifically executive assistants):
The schedulers, gatekeepers and caretakers of the corporate world are rarely seen, but they have a profound effect on the daily lives of the executives they serve. They do everything from booking business trips, ordering anniversary gifts and arranging pet care to attending high-level meetings and deciding who can and can’t meet with their boss. The work can be thankless and often comes at a cost to their own personal lives, but these workers wield subtle influence at a company’s highest levels–and no small amount of power.
At first glance, the role of an executive assistant may not sound so glamorous. I mean, honestly, how many people have you polled who admitted that their lifelong dream was to be the right hand man or woman of a top executive?
As we know, in society’s eyes, all job titles are not created equal. For example, if someone were to ask you, “What do you do for a living?” and you responded, “I’m an executive assistant,” the person may nod, say “okay,” or possibly ask about your company—but that’s as far as it goes. Now, imagine if you responded, “I’m a doctor.” Nine times out of 10, you would receive a different reaction—one that is more positive and inquiring.
Yet, even though the roles of executive assistants may not seem as glamorous or prestigious as those of doctors, lawyers, etc., the work executive assistants do is actually pretty significant to the success of the company. And it can be very profitable too.
For example, the WSJ story explained how Anikka Fragodt, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s former assistant, left the company earning $135,000 plus a 30 percent bonus with stock awards. The story also explained how one firm recruits high-level executive assistants who earn salaries ranging from $75,000 to $175,000. Although “assistant” may not sound glamorous, the potential compensation can be very attractive.
Another thing the story highlighted was the influence executive assistants have both with their bosses and the entire company:
“It’s not like the old days of ‘Mad Men,’ where the secretary wears the cute skirt, makes the coffee and does what she’s supposed to do,” says Ms. Fragodt. “She goes to the meetings and represents the executive, and the partnership is stronger.”
The story said Fragodt considered herself Zuckerberg’s “business partner,” and this consideration could be true for most executive assistants. They’re with their bosses every day, scheduling meetings, going on various business trips and to different events. Assistants meet the same “higher ups” their bosses interact with and can sometimes enjoy some of the perks their bosses receive. After spending ample time each day with someone—especially the person who has come to know you professionally better than anyone else—it’s no wonder that CEOs and big-time execs at companies look to their assistants for advice and guidance. The two inevitably create a relationship built on trust and security.
This story led me to think about my former boss and his assistant. He was the chief marketing officer for a Fortune 500 Company and his assistant was a middle-aged woman who had worked for him for years. She did everything for him, knew his schedule (and him) like the back of her hand, and even made sure to care for his personal well being, making sure he’d eat or take a break (both to his protests) throughout his constantly busy days.
One day during a random discussion about jobs, she revealed to me that a friend had told her about another assistant position making significantly more money than her current job. But then she said, “I would never take it though.” She told me that she loved her job and working for our boss, and in that moment, I realized yet another often overlooked benefit of being an executive assistant—job satisfaction.
A great deal of Americans dislike their jobs, or even if they don’t, they would leave their current company for a better opportunity or more money. This woman had not only formed a professional and trusted relationship with her boss, she’d made a friend. Someone, after working under for years spending each day attending to his every need, she had come to know and care for just like any other friendship. And this led to her actually enjoy the work she does; who doesn’t want that?
I’m sure this may not be the case for every executive assistant, but the point is that these types of manger-employee relationships are so unique because they allow a sense of trust and relationship to form. And having relationships built on trust—especially in the workplace—makes for a much better experience.